Proposed glamping pods at Killarney Racecourse get go-ahead from planning board 

There had been dozens of objections to the planned development

The glamping development will be located 200m from Killarney National park. Picture: Valerie O'Sullivan

The proposed construction of glamping pods at Killarney Racecourse on Ross Road, alongside Killarney National Park, has been given the go-ahead by An Bord Pleanála. 

There had been dozens of objections by residents' groups, as well as a local golf club, a jarvey company, and An Taisce.

Concerns about the effect of nighttime lighting on the lesser horseshoe bat on its flight path to the national park 200m away were raised by several objectors.

The development is within the racecourse circuit and alongside a nine-hole golf course. Two of the holes will have to be relocated to facilitate the glamping.  

The possibility of spooking the horses as well as the risk to glampers from flying golf balls were raised by objectors.

Killarney Glamping got permission from the council for the new development in late 2022.

An appeal was taken against the decision in October 2022 by residents and others.

Multiple issues, including questions about the zoning of the site and the impact of the glamping development on tourism itself, were raised.

The prospect of noise and disturbances to residents, as well as traffic safety and parking issues, in particular on race meeting days, were also raised.

The Ross Golf Club, a lessee of the racecourse, was concerned about the relocation of its practice area and the wider impact on the commitment to sports in the development plan.

An Taisce was concerned about the impact on the night-time flights of the light-shy bats on their way to and from their roosts in Killarney National Park, while the Irish Deer Society said deer and other protected species in the park would also be disturbed by the works.

Local jarvey company, The Killarney Horse and Carriage Tours, which operates to and from Ross Castle, was concerned about the impact on the scenic views across the racecourse towards Mangerton Mountain.

Two potential housing developments on Port Road alongside the national park to the north of the town centre have recently been turned down by An Bord Pleanála because of concern for the horseshoe bats’ flight path to their roosts in the park.

The glamping company is to install low-level bollard lighting throughout for a minimum impact and a wall-mounted light for each unit, with the light cowled downwards to mitigate the disturbance.

In its decision, An Bord Pleanála found glamping accords with the development plans for Killarney.

The objectives were for "a variety of tourist accommodation and to direct glamping to urban locations", the board said.

The board has restricted the use of the pods to short-term tourist letting only and said they "shall not be used as permanent residential accommodation". 

Conditions also include planting native trees and 24-hour supervision during occupation.